Thread end release and cutting mechanism



uly 28, 1953 H. T. O'NEILL, JR

THREAD END RELEASE AND CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. e,' 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Harry IZOWeilJz? ATTORNEYS i l ar July 3, 1953 H. T. ONEILL, JR

THREAD END RELEASE AND CUTTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1951 INVENTOR Han/3y rowezzz, .1]? 6y ii -M W M AT'I'ORN EYS Patented July 28, 1953 THREAD END RELEASE AND CUTTING MECHANISM Harry T. ONeill, Jr., New Bedford, Mass., as-

signor toThe Continental Elastic Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 6, 1951, Serial No. 209,588

8 Claims.

This invention relates to thread end release methods and mechanism more particularly of the type to be used on an automatic winding machine for winding bobbins of thread.

In a bobbin Winding machine such as of the type shown and described in Patent No. 2,247,718, dated July 1, 1941, with which the present invention is concerned, the sequence of operations includes the feeding of empty bobbins into alignment with driving spindle shafts, each having a driving head with a gripping portion, the positioning of the end of a continuous length of thread from a supply spool between the gripping portion and outer face of the associated bobbin flange, the gripping of such thread end between said gripping portion and said outer face so that it will not slip off such bobbin as the latter begins rotating, the guiding of the thread as it is wound on the bobbin barrel to provide for an even lay, the stopping of the driving spindle shafts when a predetermined number of turns of thread has been wound on the bobbins, the release of the wound bobbins from the driving spindle shaft and the severing of the threads between the wound bobbins and the associated thread supply rolls.

Where the inside end of the thread, which is secured to the outer face of the flange end of the bobbin at the beginning of the winding cycle, is not released and where such end extends tautly at an obliqu angle from the periphery of the bobbin flange to the barrel portion thereof, layers of thread will wind on an incline over such taut end, the gradual collapse of which under the pressure of the successive layers resulting in a soft spot on the Wound bobbin. As a result, in use of the bobbin on a braiding machine for instance, when the thread which is braided under tension reaches the area of such soft spot it will bind thereinto, with resultant breakage. This would require stoppage of the braiding machine and time-consuming retying of such thread ends, thereby reducing the output and requiring supervisory personnel, with consequent high cost of the finished product. The product moreover is inferior due to the knots at the retiecl threads.

Where, to prevent such soft spots, means is provided to effect relative axial movement away from each other of the bobbin flange and the gripping portion of the bobbin driving head normally urged thereagainst, in order to release the end of thread retained therebetween, after a few layers have been wound upon the barrel of the bobbin, the otherwise taut oblique span will be released, to enable successive layers of thread to fill the entire length of the bobbin barrel with compactness which is uniform even at the inner face of the bobbin flange against which the end of thread is retained. However, when the wound bobbin is released and dropped from the driving spindle shaft and the thread is severed between the driving spindle shaft and the released wound bobbin then when the next bobbin is brought into Winding position, there will be a length of thread hanging therefrom which will extend beneath the spindle shaft. As a result, the attendant is likely frequently to tie the protruding inner end rather than outer end of a wound bobbin to the work on a braiding machine, with consequent snapping of the thread when the braiding machine is restarted and the need for again stopping and retying.

Where, to avoid such difficulty, the extending portion of the inner end of the thread wound on the bobbin is clipped off by an attendant before the bobbin is inserted in the braiding machine, such operation is time-consuming, requires much personnel and yet is not dependable, for the attendant may erroneously sever a portion of the outer rather than the inner end of the thread.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a thread end release method and mechanism of the above type which involves but few steps and has but few parts, none of which is likely to become deranged, which is not likely to jam and cause breakage during operation and which may readily be incorporated in a winding machine of the above type reliably to sever the taut inner span of the thread adjacent the flange of the bobbin to release such taut end, thereby to prevent the building of soft spots in the layers of thread Wound on the bobbin and which mechanism dispenses with the need for manually clipping the inner end of the thread to remove any extending portions thereof.

According to the invention the thread is gripped between the gripping portion of the driving head of the bobbin winding machine and the outer face of a flange end of the bobbin so that when the bobbin is rotated the end of the thread will be drawn tautly substantially transversely across the periphery of the flange of the bobbin and layers of thread will be wound on the bobbin barrel without likelihood of slipping.

Means are provided to sever the fixed or inner end of the thread at the portion thereof extending across the periphery of the bobbin flange, after a few layers are wound on the barrel of the bobbin and while the bobbin is rotating, so that the otherwise taut oblique end is released to enable successive layers of thread to fill the entire length of the bobbin barrel with uniform compactness from the inner face of the flange against which the end of the thread is retained.

In the illustrative embodiment herein shown, the severing means desirably comprises a cutting lade or knife movable at right angles to that portion of thread stretched tautly substantially transversely across the periphery of the bobbin flange so that upon contact of said thread portion with the severing meansit will be-cut; Desirably the periphery-of the flange of the bobbin has an. annular groove therein over which the taut thread is stretched and the cutting blade is designed to move slightly inside saidannular. groove so that as the bobbin rotates thetaut' tlrreadwilli dependably engage the edge of the cutting means and be sever-ed.

In the accompanying drawingsin- Which'- are: shown one or more of various possible embodi-- ments of the several features of-.the:inventio.n;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a winding machine incorporating the end release severing mechanism,

Fig. 2 isa front.elevational-viewtaken. along line 2'--2.of Fig. .1,

Fig; 3 isa transverse'sectionalview-taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectional vievr'showin a cutting knife, and

Figs. 5 and 6- are detailiperspective. views of a portion of the actuating'mechanism'for the cutting knife.

Referring: now totlie drawings, the end release mechanism is illustrativelyshownincorporated in an automatic bobbin-winding machine of the general type shown and described in'tlie; above identified patent, which machine will be described only to the extent-necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the winding machine desirably comprises-a plurality of parallel spindle shafts illustrative1yfour innumber and designated by the-numerals H 12,- I3 and 54; each to rotate abobbin l5 to-wind thr-eadthereon. The spindle shafts extendforwardly; desirably in a common horizontal plane, through the-front wall l6 of a gear box I? which has mechanism therein (not shown) simultaneously to rotate all of said shafts-in thesamedirection'; In order that the spindle-shafts may'rotate' the associated bobbins [5; each of saidspindle shafts-hasa-driving head 2| mounted thereon and a bobbin presser-head 22spaced-therefrom: Asthe driving head and'presser headmay be of" any suitable type, they;will'not' bedescribed in detail; One of said heads; illustrativelythe presser head 22 is movable axiallywithrespect to: the. associated driving head so' that'.when abobbin is positioned therebetween and axially aligned therewith and the presser head moved axially toward the, driving head; the bobbin will'be gripped therebetween.

Desirably, means are providedincluding a con ventional threadtransverse guide 23 to position a length of thread which extendsfrom asupply spool. (not. shown) between the, gripping surface 24 of the driving headand. the associatedouter face 25 of the flange end'2t. of'the bobbin l5isc thatwhen the bobbin presser head 2.2 is. moved axially toward'the driving head 2| as above described, the thread'will be securelyclamped betweenthe gripping surface ofsaid'driving'hea'd and the outer face of the flange end'of the bobbin.

A pair of scissor-blades 28and 29" associated with each of the spindle shafts respectively serve to sever the thread'after a predetermined'length thereof has been woundion-the bobbin; Scissor blades 28'and129xare mountedonasuitable support or assembly 3|. positioned beneath: said spindle shafts.

The scissor bladesare actuated;v

by any suitable mechanism (not shown) to sever the thread moved therebetween, after the bobbin is wound, as by the deflector or guide arms 33, shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As the details of such scissor blades 28, 29 and actuating. mechanism therefor per seforms no part of this invention they will not be further described.

Means are provided associated with each of saidjbobbins to sever the thread near the portion 3 thereof retained between the gripping portion 24 of'said driving head 2! and the flange 25 of the bobbinxaft'er; a: predetermined number of turns have beenwound'" on such bobbin. Such means desira-bly-cornprisesan actuating rod which, as.shown.-.in.l igs.. 1, 2 and 3, extends longitudinally of the supporting assembly 3i and at right angles to the bobbins 15, said actuating rod, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, being positioned directly beneath the flange end 26 of the bobbins.

Mounted on said actuating rod are a plurality of cutting means or knives 37 each associated" with one of said bobbin-flanges 26 and normally spaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 2; Although the. knives may be of any suitable type, each desirably comprises a substantiall triangular member having a serrated edge 38. The blades 37 are desirably removably and adjustably mounted on the actuating rod. To this endthe rod desirably has a plurality of longitudinal slots 39'Jtherein adjacent each of said bobbins, which slots may receive the bottom end 4| of'the knives respectively, said knives being narrower than the length of the slots so that the position of said knives in said slots may be adjusted. Desirably theknives are'retained in any position of adjustment in the associated slot by means of a set screw 42'which extends transversely through the actuating rod so-as to abut against the face of the blade.

Means are desirably provided to reciprocate the actuating" rod so that the knives carried thereon may be moved toward the flanges 26 to sever the retainedend of the thread and away from such flanges after the thread has been severed. To this endthe actuating rod is desirably slidably mounted in suitable bearings 43 rigidly afiixed as by screws 44' to the top surface 45 of the-assembly 3| as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The actuating rod desirably'has a vertical finger 46 at one endthereof as shown in Figs. 1, and 2, preferably formed integral therewith. Finger 46 is desirably positioned between a pair of pins 4'! and 41' extending at right angles to finger 46 and desirably mounted in a pair of plates 48,- said pins retaining said plates in spaced parallel relation. The plates 48'desirably have a hub 49 rigidly affixed therebetween near the upper end thereof, which hub-is desirably affixed as by a set screw 5| to a shaft 52' extending at right angles to actuating rod 35 and rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 53, 54 affixed to the frame of the machine. In order to prevent axial displacement of said shaft 52 in bearings 53, 54, collars 55' and'56 are desirably provided affixed tosaid shaft 52 by set screws 51 and positioned adjacent said bearings 53, 54 respectively.

Means are desirably provided to rotate shaft 52 in its bearings 53, 54 so as to move pin 41 against upstanding finger 46 thereby to move the knives 3'! toward the bobbin flanges 26. Although any suitable means may be used for. this purpose, in the illustrative embodiment herein. shown, a solenoid. BI is desirably afiixedto theframe of the machine. Pivoted to the armature 62 of the solenoidas at.63 is-aalink' 64, tothefree endof which is pivotally connected as at 65, a second link 66, the upper end of which is pivotally connected as at 6'! to a lever 68. The free end of lever 68 carries a hub 69 rigidly affixed thereto and idly mounted on shaft 52. 7

The hub 69 is operatively connected to shaft 52 by means of a torque Spring 1| encompassing shaft 52, affixed at one end to said hub and at its other end to a collar 12 aflixed to shaft 52 as by a set screw 13.

As the torque spring H is under tension it will tend to rotate shaft 52 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. Such rotation, however, is normally restrained by a dog 15 rigidly affixed to a lever 16 and idly mounted on shaft 52. The lever 76 extends parallel to lever 68 and has a screw 18 which extends through a substantially vertical arcuate slot i! in lever 68, a nut 19 on said screw securely clamping said levers together.

The dog 15 which has substantially 180 degrees of its end cut away as at 8|, coacts with the cut away portion 82 of a corresponding dog 83 aflixed to shaft 52 as by set screws 84. As shown in Fig. dog 83 desirably has approximately 5 degrees more of its end cut away or 185 degrees thereof for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The cut away ends of dogs and 82 are normally retained in engagement as at 85 by the torque spring H which tends to rotate shaft 52 and dog 83, the lever I6 mounting dog 15 normally restraining the rotation of dog 83 and hence of shaft 52.

Although any suitable bobbin having an end flange may be used with the above described end release mechanism, it is preferred to use a bobbin of the type shown herein which desirably is a spool, preferably of plastic, having a tubular barrel 9| with flange 26 at one end thereof and with a flange 92 at the other end thereof. Although the flange 26 may comprise merely a circular member having a flat periphery, in the preferred embodiment herein shown, the periphery of flange 26 desirably has an annular groove 93 therein across which, when the device is in operation, the retained end of the thread may be stretched in the manner hereinafter to be described. The outer face of flange 92 desirably has a plurality of driving teeth 94 preferably radially arranged on the periphery thereof, which coact with the driving mechanism of the conventional braiding machine with which the bobbin is designed to be used.

Operation In the operation of the winding machine, the

bobbins are located between the driving heads and the presser heads, as shown in Fig. 1, and the thread traverse guide 23 is in the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, to position the thread between the gripping portion 24 of the driving head and the outer face 25 of flange 26. The presser head is then moved axially toward the driving head to move the bobbin axially and to clamp the thread between said gripping portion 24 and the outer face 25 of flange 26. The driving mechanism for the spindle shafts may thereupon be energized to rotate the bobbins.

As the bobbin rotates, thread will be withdrawn from the supply spool (not shown) and wound around the bobbin shaft, the thread being guided to form equal layers by means of the thread transverse guide 23 which moves to the right as shown in Fig. 3. Since the inside end of the thread is clamped between the outer face of flange 26 and the gripping portion of the bobbin presser head 22, as the layers of thread are wound on the bobbin, such inside end will extend transversely across the annular groove in flange 26 and tautly at an oblique angle from the periphery of the bobbin flange to the barrel portion thereof as best shown in Fig. 3.

To prevent the spacing of the layers of thread from the bobbin, as they are wound over such taut oblique end thread span, with consequent gradual collapse of such taut span under the pressure of successive layers of thread and a resultant soft spot in the bobbin, suitable control means (not shown) are desirably provided to energize the solenoid 61 after a few layers of thread have been wound on the bobbin barrel. solenoid 6| is energized the armature 62 thereof will move upwardly thereby raising links 64 and 65 to pivot lever 68 on shaft 52, with resultant rotation of hub 69. As a result, torque spring II will impart drive to hub 12 aflixed to shaft 52 thereby to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. Although the dog 15 on lever 16 normally restrains the movement of dog 82 and shaft 52 to which it is affixed, as lever 76 is aflixed to lever 68, it will also pivot to rotate the dog '15 so that the cut away portion of the end thereof will move away from the associated cut away portion of the end of dog 83 to release the latter so that shaft 52 may be rotated by spring H. As a result of the rotation of shaft 52, hub 49 affixed thereto will also be rotated to rock the plates 48 thereby to move pin 47 against finger 46 to move rod 35 to the right as shown in Fig. 2.

Such movement of the actuating rod 35 willning said annular grooves will be moved into engagement with the associated serrated edge 38 which will thereupon sever the retained end of the thread, so that upon continued rotation of the bobbin and winding of layers of thread thereon, such layers will be able to move against the inner face of flange 26 by reason of the release of the end of the thread. As such severed inner end of the thread is of relatively short length, during winding of successive layers of thread on the bobbin such inner end will be concealed by such successive layers so that but a single end of thread will extend from the bobbin.

In the event the knives 3! should hit some obstruction in their movement toward flanges 25, such as the flange end of a displaced bobbin, although the rotation of shaft 52 will be'stopped, there is no likelihood of jamming or injury to the mechanism by the continued movement of the armature of solenoid 54 to the limit of its stroke. This is due to the additional 5 degree clearance in the dog 83 which is sufficient to permit full stroke of the solenoid armature and rotation of dog even though dog 83 is restrained from rotation.

The adjustable connection between levers 68 and I6 is to permit bobbins having flange heads of different diameters to be used. Thus, if the free end of lever 16 should be moved to its lowermost postion from the position shown in Fig. 2, the dog 15 would rotate dog 83 and shaft 52 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. This would move pin 4'1 against finger 46 to move rod 35 and knives 31 to the left so that when rod 35' When the was; actuated; by solenoid- 6l, larger? diameteri bobbin: flanges. could be; accommodated.

After: the: desired; number of; turns arewound.

omthe: bobbins-V: and. the. rotation of the spindle shafts: has-:stopped;.the b'obbins may be released by movingmherpresser heads axially away fromthe driving heads. the bobbins arereleased; theywillifall into asuitable hopper (not shown) atiwhichtime the trailing end of the threads which leads tothesupply; spools, will be positioned by; the-deflector armBB-between the scissorrblades 28, 29 and such blades are thereupon actuated to sever the thread.

Simultaneously with the release of the bobbins, the-severed inner ends of the threads clamped between the gripping portions of the driving heads .and' the flanges will also be released; As such severedinner' endsof' the threads are of relatively'short lengthas they extend only from the, scissor bladesto. the flanges of the bobbin,v

When-"releasedthey will fall out of the way cfthe operating: elements of the machine'and will not cause any entanglement. in the machine during subsequent operation thereof L With the end release mechanism above described; each'wound bobbin will have but a single trailing length of thread protruding therefrom which, in use of :the bobbin1on the braiding machines; may readily be tied into the machine. As the inner end of thethread'is concealed within the-layers-wound'on the bobbin, it need not be clipped off; and so the labor of such clipping is avoided, and'in addition there is no likelihood of snapping the thread and stopping the machine if such inner end rather than the outer end :be tied into the braiding machine;

As: many changes could be made in the above construction and method, andmany apparently widely difierent" embodiments of this invention could be made without departingfrom the scope of; the claims, it is intended that all matter contained'in the above description or siown-in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as-illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1; A machine for winding thread upon bobbins of the type having a flange end, said machinecomprising-a plurality of pairs of bobbin driving heads and bobbin presser heads lying in substantially the same horizontal plane; thread gripping means on one of the heads of'eachof said pairs, means to position a thread between each of said gripping means and an associated outer faceof such flange, means to effect axial movement of'one of each pair of said heads with respect to the associated head to hold a bobbin therebetween and to move the face of the flange end thereof against the associated gripping means tohold the end of such thread, means to rotate said bobbin driving heads and such bobbins to Wind layers of thread thereon, means to position such retained ends of thread as such bobbins are rotating so-that each thread extends across the periphery of the associated bobbin flange, a cutting knifepositioned adjacent the periphery of each of such flanges, an actuating rod extending at right angles to said driving heads positionedtherebeneath and mounting said knives and means to reciprocate said rod to move said knives toward the associated flange periphery into the path of movement of the portion of the retained end of-thread across the periphery of the associatedflange .while such bobbinsarerotating,

2..The: combination: set; forth. in; claim 1'. inwhich said: rod. has: a. plurality of: longitudinal. slots. therein associated respectively. with said; bobbin flanges. and: a. portion of 1 each of. said. knives is positioned insaidslots respectively, said slots. being of greater' lengththan the mounting portion-of: eachpfi'said knivesto afford adjust:-

ment of the. positionof. said knives and meansare provided securely yet'releasablyto retainsaid.

knives in said slots.

3. Almachineiforwinding thread upon a bobbin of' the type having a flange end, said machine-comprising abobbin driving head, a bobbin presser head, thread'g-ripping meanson one of said lieads, means to'position a threadbetween-said gripping means and the outerfaceof' such-flange,- means to effect axial movement of 'one of said "heads with respect to the other to hold a bobbin therebetween and to move the outer face of such flange end against theassociated' gripping; means to-hold the endof such thread; means to rotate said'bobbin driving head and such-bobbinto Wind layers of thread there'- on, means to position such retained end of thread as such bobbin is rotating so that it extends across the periphery-of such' bobbin flange and means to sever such retained'end at the portionthereof.

extending across such periphery while such bobbinis rotating, said meanscomprising. a cutting knife positioned adjacent theperiphery of such flange end of the.bobbinandjnormally spaced.

therefrom, an actuating rod'.having a .longitudi: nal slot therein, said knife liavinga portion positionedin said slot,.means securely yet releasably to. retain. said knifeinsaidslot, and means. to.

reciprocatesaid ro.d.to..move saidknife. toward said. flange periphery. into. the path. of movement.

of .the .retained. end.of.-thread across the. periphe any of such flange.

4. A machine forrwinding thread upon abobbin.

of the. type having a. flange end, saidmachine comprising, a bobbin; driving head, a bobbin presser head, thread gripping means on one of said heads, means-to .positionathread between said. gripping. means andzthe outer face of such flange, means to-effect axialmovement of one of said headswithrespecttothe other to'hold.

at bobbin therebetween and to movethe outer face of such" flange-end: against the. associated gripping means'to hold the end ofsuchthread,

means to rotate said bobbin driving head and such bobbin to wind layers of thread thereon, means to position such retained endofthread as such bobbin is rotating so that itextends across the periphery of such bobbin flange and means to sever such retainedend at the portion thereof extending vacrosszsuch periphery while suchibobbin is rotating, said means comprising a cuttingknife positioned adjacentthe peripheryof such flange endof the bobbin andnormally'spaced' therefrom, an actuating'rod mounting said'knife,

slide bearings for saidactuating rod mounted to position the'latter: at right angles tosaid bobbin to reciprocate said actuating rod to move said knife toward said flange periphery into the path of movement of the portion of the retained end of thread across the periphery of such flange.

5. A machine for winding thread upon a bobbin of the type having a flange end, said machine comprising a bobbin driving head, a bobbin presser head, thread gripping means on one of said heads, means to position a thread between said gripping means and the outer face of such flange, means to effect axial movement of one of said heads with respect to the other to hold a bobbin therebetween and to move the outer face of such flange end against the associated gripping means to hold the end of such thread, means to rotate said bobbin driving head and such bobbin to wind layers of thread thereon, means to posi tion such retained end of thread as such bobbin is rotating so that it extends across the periphery of such bobbin flange and means to sever such retained end at the portion thereof extending across such periphery while such bobbin is rotating, said means comprising a cutting knife positioned adjacent the periphery of such flange end of the bobbin and normally spaced therefrom, an actuating rod mounting said knife, a shaft extending at right angles to said actuating rod, means to oscillate said shaft, said means comprising a solenoid having an armature, a lever idly mounted at one end on said shaft, a torque spring afflxed at one end to the mounted end of said lever and at its other end to said shaft, and linkage between said lever and said armature, whereby upon movement of said armature said lever will be pivoted to turn said spring and said shaft, linkage between said shaft and said rod to reciprocate the latter upon oscillation of said shaft to move said knife toward said flange periphery into the path of movement of the portion of the retained end of thread across the periphery of such flange.

6. A machine for winding thread upon a bobbin of the type having a flange end, said machine comprising a bobbin driving head, a bobbin presser head, thread gripping means on one of said heads, means to position a thread between said gripping means and the outer face of such flange, means to effect axial movement of one of said heads with respect to the other to hold a bobbin therebetween and to move the outer face of such flange end against the associated gripping means to hold the end of such thread, means to rotate said bobbin driving head and such bobbin to wind layers of thread thereon, means to position such retained end of thread as such bobbin is rotating so that it extends across the periphery of such bobbin flange and means to sever such retained end at the portion thereof extending across such periphery while such bobbin is rotating, said means comprising a cutting knife positioned adjacent the periphery of such flange end of the bobbin and normally spaced therefrom, an actuating rod mounting said knife, a shaft extending at right angles to said actuating rod, means to oscillate said shaft, said means comprising a solenoid having an armature, a lever idly mounted at one end on said shaft, linkage operatively connecting the other end of said lever to said solenoid, a torque spring affixed at one end to the mounted end of said lever and at its other end to said -shaft normally urging said shaft to rotate in direction to move said rod and said knife toward said flange, and complementary means movable with said lever and rigid with said shaft respectively to restrain rotation of the latter until said lever is pivoted, linkage between said shaft and said rod to reciprocate the latter upon oscillation of said shaft to move said knife toward said flange periphery into the path of movement of the portion of the retained end of thread across the periphery of such dance.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said complementary means comprises a dog movable with said lever having substantially degrees of its end cut away and a dog rigid with the shaft having substantially degrees of its end cut away, said cut away ends being normally resiliently retained in engagement by said spring, said additional 5 degree cut away portion permitting rotation of said lever by said solenoid without rotation of said shaft.

8. A machine for winding thread upon a bobbin of the type having a flange end, said machine comprising a bobbin driving head, a bobbin presser head, thread gripping means on one of said heads, means to position a thread between said gripping means and the outer face of such flange, means to effect axial movement of one of said heads with respect to the other to hold a bobbin therebetween and to move the outer face of such flange end against the associated gripping means to hold the end of such thread, means to rotate said bobbin driving head and such bobbin to wind layers of thread thereon, means to position such retained end of thread as such bobbin is rotating so that it extends across the periphery of such bobbin flange and means to sever such retained end at the portion thereof extending across such periphery while such bobbin is rotating, said means comprising a cutting knife positioned adjacent the periphery of such flange end of the bobbin and normally spaced therefrom, an actuating rod mounting said knife, a shaft extending at right angles to said actuating rod, means to oscillate said shaft, said means comprising a pair of levers idly mounted at one end on said shaft, linkage operatively connecting the other end of one of said levers to said solenoid, means adjustably connecting the other end of the other of said levers to said first named lever to permit pivotal movement of said second lever with respect to said first lever, a torque spring affixed at one end to the mounted end of said first lever and at its other end to said shaft normally urging said shaft to rotate in direction to move said rod and said knife toward said flange, a dog rigid with said second lever encompassing said shaft and having substantially 180 degrees of its end cut away, a complementary dog aflixed t said shaft having substantially 185 degrees of its end cut away, said cut away ends being normally resiliently retained in engagement by said spring, said additional five degrees cut away portion permitting rotation of said lever by said solenoid without rotation of said shaft, linkage between said shaft and said rod to reciprocate the latter upon oscillation of said shaft to move said knife toward said flange periphery int the path of movement of the portion of the retained end of thread across the periphery of such flange,

HARRY T. ONEILL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

